Featured News
Retiree Issues in the Spotlight
We continue to await news of the final outcome of the bipartisan effort in Congress to pass the Social Security Fairness Act and finally repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) to ensure that public employees – including educators, firefighters, and VA nurses – receive the Social Security benefits they are due.
Read MoreSan Antonio ISD Targets 19 Schools for Closure
Texas AFT regularly participates in coalition work with allies related to our legislative priorities; in the past week, we have had the chance to join our coalition partners at the Capitol for successful advocacy days.
Read MoreBiden Makes History with a Series of Pro-Worker, Pro-Educator Moves
Over the past two weeks, President Joe Biden has made history with a quartet of substantive announcements intended to support workers, educators, and our environment. Support for UAW Striking Workers This Tuesday, Biden made history as the first sitting U.S. president to walk a picket line in support of striking...
Read MoreSept. 22, 2023: Nothing About Us Without Us
Friday, September 22, 2023 Texas AFT Retiree Plus members at the Texas Tribune Festival on Thursday, engaging in conversations with members of the media, Texas voters, and elected officials like Rep. Vikki Goodwin. Nothing About Us Without Us This week, we’re at the Texas Tribune Festival in downtown Austin. While...
Read MoreSept. 15, 2023: Just Scraping By
Friday, September 15, 2023 If you work in Texas public schools — K-12 or higher education — and are ready to fight for positive change, we hope you’ll consider joining our fight to #ThriveTogether. join.texasaft.org. New school year, worsening problems We asked a simple question on Facebook last week: “In...
Read MoreSurvey Says: Educators Opposed to Governor’s Voucher Ambitions
Texas has become awash in dark money seeking to influence public education over the past several years. This dark money represents political and business agendas working to undermine our public schools and degrade the quality of public education in Texas and to advance privatization and vouchers.
Read MoreUnmasking Vouchers: Texas Public Policy Foundation
Texas has become awash in dark money seeking to influence public education over the past several years. This dark money represents political and business agendas working to undermine our public schools and degrade the quality of public education in Texas and to advance privatization and vouchers.
Read MorePaxton Acquittal Sparks Renewed Hostilities between House, Senate
This past weekend, the Texas Senate voted to acquit Attorney General Ken Paxton on all 16 articles of impeachment brought against him by the Texas House. Only two of 19 Republicans in the Senate voted to impeach Paxton on any of the articles. All 12 Democrats voted to impeach Paxton...
Read MoreSpring Branch ISD Trustees Withhold Recapture Payment to State
Spring Branch ISD has taken a stand against the state’s chronic underfunding of our public schools; this month, its school board voted unanimously to withhold the recapture payment the state requires of property-wealthy school districts. While this move could result in state penalties, Spring Branch ISD officials have made a...
Read MoreTRS Board Discusses One-Time Stipend Payments, TRS Health Fairs
The Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) Board of Trustees convened in Austin last week for its quarterly meeting. At the hearing, the board discussed the disbursal of one-time stipend checks for retirees 70 and older. These stipend payments are a component of Senate Bill 10 by Sen. Joan Huffman...
Read MoreHB 900 Gets the Boot in a Scathing Opinion
Come And Take It: Get your yard sign at store.texasaft.org. All purchases act as a donation to our union’s political fund. On Aug. 31, Texas Judge Alan D. Albright issued a temporary injunction against House Bill 900. Known as The READER Act by Rep. Jared Patterson (R-Frisco), HB 900 is...
Read MorePreview: SBEC Meets Next Week in Austin
The State Board for Educator Certification will meet next Friday, Sept. 29, in Austin. Texas AFT is carefully watching three items on the board’s agenda: Educator Preparation Programs For the last several months, the SBEC, along with the Texas Education Agency, have been engaged in a full reorganization of Texas...
Read MoreNew poll of Texas school employees shows overwhelming concern about vouchers, disgust in Legislature’s inaction on funding
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sept. 20, 2023 CONTACT: press@texasaft.org New poll of Texas school employees shows overwhelming concern about vouchers, disgust in Legislature’s inaction on funding Gov. Abbott continues his crusade for school privatization on a call with right-wing advocacy...
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